Friday, 24 February 2012

Now, this is a slight change to what I'd normally write about, but I know that the lovely people of Blogland are very cheery and generous souls so I didn't think that it would hurt to digress from usual proceedings just this once...

I've entered Little Treasure into the 'Star of JoJo' competition that the children's company, JoJo Maman Bebe, are currently running. If you happen to be on Facebook and you wouldn't mind casting a vote for LT, we'd all be extremely grateful indeed!

VINTAGE LOVELINESS

Don't forget it's the Vintage and Handmade Fair in Chipping Sodbury tomorrow. DO come and say "hello" if you're in the area!

Normal blogposts will be resumed very soon! Enjoy the sunshine and have lovely weekends one and all.

Monday, 13 February 2012

My friends and family all know that I love vintage sewing bits and bobs, so every now and again I'm presented with an offering with the words, "I found this and wondered whether you'd like it", to which I reply very quickly, "Ooooo, yes please!" These are the latest additions to my collection of treasure, given to me by my lovely friend Ann.

One of the most exciting things about a tin of treasure is that you never know what you're going to find inside.

I love this tin...it reminds me of my Grandma, who always seemed to have a tin of boiled sweets stashed away in her handbag!

Here are some of things I found in the bigger tin. I love vintage sewing things for their design, the fabulous packaging they come in and for the sheer range of helpful tools and gadgets that were made.

I was really drawn to this gauge as it was obvisously given away with Rinso...and I love things that are linked to advertising.

There were needles galore, all tucked away in their decorative packets and cases.

There really is a needle for everything!

I love the colours and the lovely plastic feel of these pieces.

I'm drawn to ephemera like a moth to a flame, so anything still with their paper packaging is always fabulous!

The tins are now safely tucked away on the shelf in my workroom waiting to be brought out when a project calls for a particular piece of haberdashery or useful tool...or when I just fancy getting the tins out for another rummage through!

Friday, 3 February 2012

Ever since I was little I've harboured the thought that it would be rather lovely to write a book one day. As a matter of fact, the things I always said I wanted to be when I grew up were either an author or a sweet shop lady (I loved the idea of measuring out sweets and putting them into small paper bags)! Although the sweet shop thing didn't work out, I suppose by being a freelance writer I'm sort of an author?! Oh, and there's also the small matter of writing this blog...which leads me nicely into something I'd like to share with you...

I've always loved creating journals and in a way this blog has become a bit like a journal - documenting places I visit, treasure-seeking adventures I go on, people I meet and things that inspire me. This made me think...wouldn't it be nice to be able to look back on the blog posts I've written and somehow preserve them offline? So, with this in mind I made my first year of blog posts into a book using Blurb... and was so pleased with the result, that I'm now doing it for every year of blogging I do.

It's really easy. Just download the Blurb software on to your computer and use the templates to create your masterpiece. It takes me a long time to finish each book (mainly because my computer's a little over the hill), but it's fabulous when the finished article arrives.

There are lots of different layout templates to use. Just drag and drop the images on to the page and insert the text (I copy and paste it from my blog into each book).

You don't have to put text on every page... sometimes it's nice just to have pictures.

You can even add a 'blurb' (publishing speak for the bit that tells everyone what the book's about!) on to the back cover, just like a real book you'd buy in a bookshop!

There's something rather exciting about publishing your own book (even if you know that only you and your family will probably ever see it!)

I must just add a word of warning though... creating your own books can become really addictive! You could make a book about your summer holiday, things you've made, or even put together favourite sewing projects or stories for your children. I've got far too many ideas buzzing around my head now... where to start?!

I'm dotty about textiles. I love fabric, buttons, vintage fashion and scouring the country for vintage textile treasures. I have my own company (aptly named after my blog!), selling the vintage-inspired textile pieces I hand make myself, as well as all sorts of vintage sewing and textiles-related treasures that I find on my travels. I'm a freelance writer in the fabulous world of textiles too and I couldn't resist writing my own blog about the things I love the most...